I hit the ground running today. Out of bed by 6 and straight to the laptop where I pounded out the final edits on my book proposal and hit the SEND button, sending them flying across the electric miles to my agent in California. Then a quick check of e-mail before I prepared a marinated asparagus that must sit for 8 hours in the fridge. Hopped on the treadmill for 3 quick miles, showered, blew dry and... the world came to a halt.

My flat iron, the most treasured possession of any curly-haired woman living in the humid South, was dead. When banging it against the granite countertop failed to revive it, I realized a trip to Wal-Mart was in my near future. No problem. I've got a full plate today but figured I'd buzz in and out, picking up some Liquid Plumber for the shower and flowers for outside the house because that's the kind of multi-tasking chick I am. 

Ran into Wal-Mart, grabbed a cart, found the hair supply aisle. Which I stood in front of for the next twenty-five minutes. Really? Replacing a flat-iron requires this much thought? 

Apparently so. I knew I wanted ceramic but did I want titanium ceramic or, an apparent upgrade, titanium & tourmaline ceramic? (Because "crushed tourmaline gemstones emit natural ions to reduce frizz." Who knew?)

I also had to select between 1", 1 1/8" and 2" rods. Some had short barrels, some long. The long claimed less styling time due to longer barrels but the higher end rods were all short barrels. Where the cheap long-barreled people misleading me?

I'd almost made my choice when I discovered a Remington flatiron that released avacado oil when heated to promote shine. That little discovery added a good ten minutes to my decision-making process. 

$18 or $48? Was I being had with the $48 or being cheap and frying my hair if I went with the $18? Was the avacado oil a scam or a new life necessity? 

I finally, after great debate, left the store with the Conair ProShine 1 1/8" barrel with titanium and tourmaline ceramic. No avacado oil (I decided "scam") but it does have a "deep shine silicone strip." I have no clue what a deep shine silicone strip might offer, but I'm glad to have it, nonetheless. 

My only real reservation is the off-putting magnetic purple color. It looks like Barney the Dinosaur puked on my flat iron. 

I don't know what's worse. That I spent 30 minutes of my morning wrestling with such a trivial decision, that I came home and blogged about it, or that you all just spent five minutes of your life reading about it. (hee hee)

Dena